Li Fuxin: Mainland China's Simplified-Character 'Standard Chinese' Textbooks Go Global

Mainland China's Simplified-Character 'Standard Chinese' Textbooks Go Global

Li Fuxin

Australian-Chinese educator

Principal, Australian Standard Chinese School

Chair, Australian Association of Chinese Language Teachers

Chair, Oceania Association for Chinese Language Teaching

This Day in History

On 30 June 1999, the People's Education Press 'Standard Chinese' series formally appointed its Australasian general agent — marking the first time mainland China's simplified-character Chinese textbooks entered overseas markets.

Origins

On 13 May 1993, shortly before leaving the People's Education Press for Australia, I bid farewell to my former supervisor, Mr Ye Liqun, then Editor-in-Chief of the Press. We took a commemorative photograph together with his wife, Ms Xiao (a pre-1949 graduate of Fudan University). As I rose to leave, he said: “There’s not much to learn in Australia — go and practise your English!” (He greatly admired US science and education.)

On 30 June 1999, Mr Wei Guodong, Chief Editor of the People's Education Press, led a delegation to Melbourne. He asked the head of the Education Section at the Chinese Consulate-General in Melbourne: “We have an editorial staff member named Li Fuxin studying here — how is he doing? I’d like to meet him.” Liu Jiang, the Consulate’s Education Counsellor, replied: “He chairs the Victoria and Tasmania Chinese Students and Scholars Association.” We met over dinner in Chinatown. Mr Wei said: “Australasian science associations and bookshops have expressed interest in distributing our textbooks, but we’re not confident about entrusting them. You’re a long-standing staff member — we know you well. If you’re willing, we’ll appoint you as our general agent.” I replied: “I’m an editor, not a distributor — but I’m happy to try. In fact, I’ve already been selling copies of the *Chinese Language* textbook at weekend flea markets!” Thus, the general agency model for the mainland’s simplified-character 'Standard Chinese' textbooks was agreed upon, launching their large-scale promotion. An initial order of 400 sample copies was placed.

On 7 September 1999, Melbourne’s prominent Chinese-language newspaper *Huaxia Weekly* published an article titled “Mainland China’s People’s Education Press ‘Standard Chinese’ Textbooks Enter Australia”.

On 31 December 1999, the first container of 'Standard Chinese' textbooks arrived in Melbourne from Tianjin Port. It carried 8,000 sets (24,000 copies) of textbooks and workbooks, distributed to 48 Chinese schools and government schools — a landmark moment in the modernisation of Chinese-language teaching materials in Australia. At the time, lacking experience in pricing and cost accounting, we incurred a loss of A$1 per copy. When this news reached the People's Education Press, Mr Zhang Zhijian, Director of the Distribution Department, said: “If you’re losing money on our textbooks, how can we promote them? The Press will cover the shortfall.” Accordingly, the deficit — a huge sum for a student with limited funds — was reimbursed in the following year’s order.

Promotion

From 20 to 24 March 2004, Mr Han Shaoxiang, Editor-in-Chief of the People's Education Press, led a delegation to Australasia for textbook training — the first such dedicated teacher-training initiative in the region, predating the first Confucius Institute in Australia (established at the University of Western Australia in 2009) by seven years. The delegation visited the Parkwood Chinese School (Perth), the New Jinshan Cultural School’s Mt Waverley and Thornbury campuses (Melbourne), the Australian Standard Chinese School (Canberra), the Sydney Chinese Talent School (Sydney), and the Auckland New Century Education Centre (Auckland), training 177 teachers and issuing certificates. I served as driver, team leader, security officer, tour guide and photographer. Mr Han remarked in the car: “Fuxin, I see now — your car drives faster than anyone else’s!” Later, I received several invoices.

Since then, a person has been setting up textbook “stalls” across Australia and New Zealand — continuously for 30 years. Even I myself am unsure how this path unfolded. Reflecting on more than three decades of textbook promotion, Mr Wang Jianwen (Melbourne) and Mr Liu Chuan (Auckland) provided substantial early support. Dr Ma Xiaomei has consistently contributed to textbook promotion, distribution and compilation. Countless others have supported this journey; former Chair of the Australian Association of Chinese Language Teachers, Mr Wu Jianli, also volunteered at the textbook stalls.

In New Zealand, a local Kiwi-run family business supplied school textbooks, including Chinese-language ones. I tracked down the owner at his home to discuss cooperation. He proposed a “ship-first, pay-later” arrangement — but at settlement, layered deductions left us unable to recoup costs. Later, when seeking renewed cooperation, I learned he had passed away from cancer.

Publicity

From 27 to 29 October 2007, the inaugural International Symposium on Teaching Materials for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language was held in Canberra. Over three days, 88 scholars and educators from around the world attended. His Excellency Ambassador Zhang Junsai of China to Australia delivered a keynote address — the first time a Chinese ambassador had attended a Chinese-language education symposium in Australia. Subsequent symposia were held in 2019 (“International Symposium on Chinese-Language Teaching Materials”) and 2025 (“International Symposium on Chinese Teaching Materials”). These were pioneering international forums on Chinese-language teaching materials.

On 17 October 2020, CCTV-4’s programme *The World Listens to Me* aired a special feature titled “Li Fuxin’s 26 Years Promoting Chinese-Language Education in Australia”, highlighting his work promoting the 'Standard Chinese' textbooks. I had hoped the production team might invite Mr Wei Guodong to appear on the show. I contacted him directly; he replied: “I’m elderly and unwell — please ask a younger colleague instead.” Thus, Ms Zou Haiyan, then Assistant Editor-in-Chief of the Press, appeared on the recording.

Thirty-three years have passed in the blink of an eye. Much has been accomplished — and much more than expected. Now, am I “an old horse still yearning for a thousand-li journey”, or “Lian Po, though aged, still able to eat”? All I wish for now is to wake each day and bask in the sun — and later, tell my grandchildren stories of Grandpa’s textbook “stall”.

Fig. 1 Sydney Textbook Exhibition, July 2005

Fig. 2 Auckland Textbook Exhibition, August 2005

Fig. 3 Sydney Textbook Exhibition, July 1999

Fig. 4 Farewell with Mr and Mrs Ye Liqun of the People's Education Press, May 1993

Fig. 5 Meeting with Mr Wei Guodong and the People's Education Press delegation in Melbourne, 30 June 1999

Fig. 6 Mr Han Shaoxiang leads the People's Education Press delegation to Melbourne, March 2004

Fig. 7 Ambassador Zhang Junsai and Education Counsellor Zhu Xiaoyu attend the inaugural symposium, 27 October 2007

Fig. 8 Inaugural International Symposium on Teaching Materials for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, Canberra, 27–29 October 2007

Fig. 9 People's Education Press delegation visits Australasia for 'Standard Chinese' teacher training, 20 March – 4 April 2004